Data models on a spectrum of normalization
The prior sections demonstrate how, as we move up the normal form scale, redundancy and the potential for data anomalies decrease while raising the number of tables and associated complexity. With this in mind, we can visualize where various data modeling patterns fall on the normal form spectrum to help understand their suitability in design scenarios. While the dimensional modeling process was discussed in Chapter 7, Putting Conceptual Modeling into Practice, the associated schema patterns (star and snowflake) are explained in further detail in Chapter 17, Scaling Data Models through Modern Techniques, along with Data Vault (where they are often implemented at the information mart layer). However, visualizing them in the context of normal forms will help lay the groundwork for later understanding their design. Also, bear in mind that the following assertions speak to general tendencies, not hard-set rules.
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